Wrench having cam lever for swinging and locking a pivoted outer jaw



Nov. 28, 1950 r; A. SCHUMACHER 2,531,746

' WRENCH HAVING CAM-LEVER FOR SWINGING AND LOCKING A PIVOTED OUTER JAW Filed Dec. s, 1948 Fig./. Fig.2.

lil mm iii 5 I Inventor 23 Ed win A Schumacher Patented Nov. 28, 1950 WRENCH HAVING CAM LEVER FOR SWING- ING AND LOCKING A PIYOTED OUTER J AW Edwin A. Schumacher, Wichita, Kans., assignor of one-half to Theodore R. Breed, Wichita,

Kans.

Application December 8, 1948, Serial No. 64,172

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in wrenches of the sliding jaw type and more particularly to a pivoted outer jaw for the wrench and means for tightening and locking the gripping action of the outer jaw following an approximate adjustment of the sliding jaw.

An important object of the invention is to provide a pivoted outer jaw for the wrench with lever working against inclined cam surfaces for tightening and locking the outer jaw to improve the gripping action of the wrench.

A still further object is to provide a tool of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, efficient and reliable in operation and relatively inexpensive to manu facture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view showing the outer jaw in locked position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the outer jaw in a released position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section to show the closing and locking faces for the pivoted outer jaw and Figure 4 is a rear elevational view.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a shank of the wrench having a handle at one end and having its opposite end substantially rectangular in cross section and formed with threads 6 on its opposite longitudinal surfaces for engagement by a nut I carried in an opening 8 of a traveler 9 which is formed with an offset l to provide a sliding jaw for the wrench.

The outer end of shank is bifurcated as shown at H and provided with a transverse pin 12 on which an outer jaw I3 is pivoted, the jaws l0 and [3 having coacting toothed jaw faces I4 and I5 respectively.

The base of the bifurcated outer end portion II is indicated at It and is formed with a forwardly inclined face I! with a coil spring l8 positioned between the inclined face I1 and the inner edge of the pivoted jaw l3. The ends of the spring I8 are anchored on retaining pins l9 and the spring i8 is positioned forwardly of the pivot pin 12 whereby to exert its pressure on the pivoted jaw in a direction to open the latter.

The rear edge of shank 5 at the base portion I6 for the bifurcated outer end I l is formed with a rearwardly projecting shoulder 20 having a forwardly inclined rear surface 2| which is accentuated at the top of the shoulder to provide a rearwardly inclined upper surface 22.

A lever 23 is formed with a bifurcated outer end 24 which receives the rear end portion of pivoted jaw l3 and is pivoted thereto by a transverse pin 25.

A lug 26 projects laterally from the inner edge of lever 23 adjacent its bifurcated outer end 24 and is formed with a slightly rounded outer edge 21 to function as a cam for riding on the inclined surface 2| and inclined surface 22 of the shoulder 20.

In the operation of the tool, the work such as a pipe or the like 28 is placed between jaws l0 and I3 and the nut I adjusted to move the traveler 9 and jaw I 0 into an approximate adjustment with respect to pivoted jaw I3. During this action, the lever 23 is swung outwardly into the position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing and an inward movement of the lever will cause the cam 21 to ride on the inclined surface 2| of shoulder 20 to cause the rear end of jaw I3 to move outwardly and cause the front end of jaw l3 to move inwardly into tight gripping engagement with the work. When the cam 21 rides onto the inclined upper surface 22 of the shoulder 20 the jaw I3 will be locked against releasing movement.

The work is released by swinging the lever 23 rearwardly.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is: claimed as-new is:

A wrench comprising a shank having a sliding jaw and a pivoted outer jaw coacting with the sliding jaw, spring means opening the outer jaw, a lever pivoted at the rear end of the outer said lug riding on the upper surface to lock the outer jaw in a closed position.

EDWIN A. SCHUMACHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Broadbooks Oct. 16, 1906 Brewer Aug. 28, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Dec. 8, 1927 

